NewsClick & Neville Singham back in the spotlight, once again over Chinese funding

An investigation by the New York Times has reached the doors of Lok Sabha and put the spotlight once again on Neville Roy Singham, who has been accused of working closely with the Chinese government media machine and is financing its propaganda worldwide, including news portal NewsClick.

The Enforcement Directorate's probe against NewsClick in 2021 pointed to financial dealings with Singham, a businessman of Sri Lankan-Cuban descent whom the investigators have identified as the key source of Rs 38 crore that PPK Newsclick Studio Pvt Ltd received between 2018 and 2021 from abroad.

An NYT investigation recently found that Singham, 69, himself sits in Shanghai, where one outlet in his network is co-producing a YouTube show financed in part by the city’s propaganda department. Two others are working with a Chinese university to “spread China’s voice to the world.”


Close ties to China

In New Delhi, corporate filings show, Singham’s network financed NewsClick, that sprinkled its coverage with Chinese government talking points. “China’s history continues to inspire the working classes,” one video said.

The NYT investigation further revealed that Singham joined a Communist Party workshop about promoting the party internationally.

TOI in 2021 reported citing sources that Singham was associated with the propaganda arm of the Communist Party of China (CPC). They also claimed that the probe has established that part of the money Newsclisck allegedly received from foreign sources went to activists such as Gautam Navlakha, one of the accused in the Elgar Parishad case. Navlakha was also quizzed about his association with Newsclick’s founder and editor-in-chief Prabir Purkayastha.

Singham and his allies are undertaking what the Communist Party officials call a “smokeless war”, with the sole aim of disguising propaganda as independent content, the report said.

“I categorically deny and repudiate any suggestion that I am a member of, work for, take orders from, or follow instructions of any political party or government or their representatives,” NYT quoted Singham as saying in an email. “I am solely guided by my beliefs, which are my long-held personal views.”

Furore in India

Citing the NYT investigation, BJP leader and Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Monday charged that China, NewsClick website and Congress are linked to an "anti-India umblical cord".

"They present fake news in the name of free news. Congress and other parties are supporting them," he alleged.

BJP member Nishikant Dubey had in Lok Sabha raised the issue of a news report in the New York Times which claimed that NewsClick has received funding from Chinese firms and the money has been used to create an anti-India environment.

When contacted by TOI in 2021, Purkayastha denied the allegations about Singham being a front for CPC and his outlet’s links with the Chinese regime. He said Singham is an American citizen who launched and ran a software company in the US before selling it for around $700-800 million. “All our funds are from legitimate sources and well-known foundations in the US as per RBI guidelines,” Purkayastha was quoted as saying.

NewsClick's Reply

NewsClick in a statement on their website said the allegations are false and misleading, and pertain to matters that are currently sub judice before courts in India.

"Newsclick is an independent news organisation, and any insinuation that we function as a mouth-piece of the Communist Party of China or other interests is false. We reiterate our faith in the Indian Courts, and are confident that Newsclick has, and continues to function in accordance with Indian law," Purkayastha said in the statement.

Notably, the Hon'ble High Court of Delhi has, having found a prima facie case in favour of Newsclick, granted interim protection from arrest to various officials of the company. Further, the Hon'ble Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (Special Acts), Delhi, has dismissed a complaint filed by the income tax authorities against Newsclick, finding the same to be without merit, the outlet added.

(With inputs from agencies, TOI & NYT)